Thread by @ggreenwald

In every war, in every country, anyone off-key in any way, who questions government orthodoxies and policies, is automatically branded a traitor, guilty of being "on the other side," propaganda mouthpieces for the Enemy. Neocons perfected this dark art and it's most visible now.

There has never been more dissent-free unity and lockstep consensus among the 2 parties since at least 9/11. Those demanding US involvement in the war for Ukraine have won. Votes in Congress look like Israel votes: 426-7. Public opinion has shifted radically. Very little dissent.

There are like 11 people with a platform who question or deviate in any way from the bipartisan DC consensus -- supported by Bernie Sanders to Marco Rubio and all in between. Yet there's an obsession on this tiny pocket of dissent because religious unity needs heretics to hate.

Around the world, there's huge amounts of dissent on the war. Leftists frequently blame NATO provocations while condemning Russia. Many on the right to do, too. But in the US, the narrative is "the world" is united: even as the world's largest countries reject the West's unity.

If you're in the US or a NATO country, you're in a radically closed propaganda system. Much dissent has been banned or demonized to the point of invisibility. It may be you're still 100% right, but at least recognize that everyone in war is propagandized, warranting skepticism.

"In a context where elite mistakes and hawkish temptations could have atomic consequences, to read dissenters out of the debate makes the path to destruction much too wide and smooth for comfort." -- @DouthatNYT, "Why We Need Wartime Dissent"

nytimes.com/2022/03/23/opi…